Reading: Aristotle's Theory of Knowledge

Aristotle believed that there are certain truths that are self-evident, meaning that they are immediately known to be true without any need for proof. He called these truths "axioms" or "first principles." Some examples of axioms that Aristotle believed in include:

• The whole is greater than its parts.
• Things equal to the same thing are equal to each other.
• A thing cannot both be and not be at the same time.

Aristotle believed that axioms are self-evident because they are based on our innate understanding of the world. He argued that we are born with the ability to understand these truths, and that we do not need to learn them through experience.

Aristotle's view of knowledge as self-evident has been influential in Western philosophy. It has been used to support the idea that there are certain truths that are beyond question and that these truths can be used as the foundation for all knowledge.

Aristotle believed that there are four tests for whether something is true:

1. It must be consistent with itself. A statement cannot be both true and false at the same time.
2. It must be consistent with other known truths. A statement cannot contradict other things that we know to be true.
3. It must be based on evidence. A statement cannot be true if it is not supported by evidence.
4. It must be reasonable. A statement cannot be true if it is not reasonable to believe.

Aristotle's four tests for truth are still used today by philosophers and scientists. They provide a way to evaluate the truth of statements and to distinguish between truth and falsehood.